Coinbase Expands Futures Offering, Unveils ‘Institutional-Sized’ Bitcoin and Ether Contracts

Bitcoin.com
Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 7:30am UTC
Coinbase Expands Futures Offering, Unveils 'Institutional-Sized' Bitcoin and Ether Contracts

On June 1, Coinbase revealed its plans to extend bitcoin and ether futures contracts to institutional investors through its derivatives exchange. The firm mentioned that the Coinbase Bitcoin (BTI) and Ether (ETI) futures contracts would be accessible via third-party institutional futures commission merchants (FCMs) and brokerage firms.

Coinbase to Launch New Bitcoin and Ether Futures Products

Following the launch of the company’s nano-sized bitcoin and ether contracts, Coinbase announced this week that it has witnessed substantial “institutional interest and demand for advanced derivatives products.” As a result, the San Francisco-based exchange has opted to introduce “institutional-sized” bitcoin and ether futures contracts through its regulated Coinbase Derivatives Exchange.

These new futures products will become available on June 5, with the Coinbase Bitcoin (BTI) futures contract specified at 1 BTC and the Coinbase Ether (ETI) futures contract at 10 ether per contract. Coinbase asserts that these institution-focused contracts also provide significantly lower fees compared to traditional options, enabling institutions to improve their capital utilization. Additionally, the company highlights that these new contracts will be accessible through third parties.

Coinbase stated, “We have partnered with institutional-leading FCMs, brokers, and front-end providers to support institutional clients further, enabling seamless access to these futures contracts through their robust trading platforms.”

In the past 24 hours, the total derivatives volume is at $102 billion, currently 24.69% lower than the previous day. This weekend’s top three derivatives exchanges include , Deepcoin, and Bybit. “With the launch of these institutional-sized USD-settled contracts, we aim to empower institutional participants with greater precision,” added Coinbase.

What are your thoughts on Coinbase’s move to introduce lower fee “institutional-sized” bitcoin and ether futures contracts? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.